Saudi authority receives bids to name 10 Riyadh Metro stations

Bids to name 10 Riyadh Metro stations have reportedly been received by Saudi Arabia's ADA [representational image: Siemens].

Bids to name 10 of Riyadh Metro's 85 stations have reportedly been received by Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA).

Local Arabic-language daily, Al Eqtisadiah, reported that the ADA is now analysing the offers, which will be submitted to a specialised committee and higher authorities before the final results are announced.

Out of the 85 stations of the Riyadh Metro system, 15 were eligible for national and international companies to bid for, out of which only 10 will be awarded naming rights by ADA.

Eligibility requirements for the naming rights included the company's financial ability, its license to operate in the GCC, and its lifespan, with only firms founded at least three years ago approved for inclusion.

"For the Riyadh Metro, we have been picked to provide emergency lighting services for three of the project’s lines," Ansari said.

"The contract is worth $6.7m (SAR25m), and we have started working on it."

A contract was also signed to provide elevators for the Saudi megaproject in September 2017.

Following selection by the FAST Consortium working on Riyadh Metro, Otis Company said it would be involved with the project's Lines 4, 5, and 6.

The consortium is led by Spanish construction group FCC and includes Samsung C&T, Alstom, Strukton, and Freyssinet Saudi Arabia as partners.

As part of its contract, Otis will supply 256 escalators, six moving walkways, and 183 machine room-less elevators with travel speeds of up to 1m per second.

Otis's scope includes the provision of fully glazed panoramic elevators, and heavy-duty escalators specifically designed for public transportation.

The contract covers all elevators and escalators within the three lines of the metro, at all stations across Riyadh, two train depots, and three car parking facilities, over a total area of 72km.

Commenting on the contract win, Maged Nagib, vice president and managing director of Otis Middle East, said: "The Riyadh Metro will be one of the world’s biggest infrastructure projects, and we’re extremely proud to be part of this team.

"Otis is committed to Riyadh’s fast growth and high standards of efficiency and passenger comfort."